Single story beam corner

Started by sensedoor, November 09, 2012, 12:06:09 PM

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sensedoor

I am planning on building the one story 20X30 pretty much as the plans lay it out, using the 6X6 treated foundation posts and the 5.5X9" built up beam. We will then at some later time add a room on to the Living Room end, with the width of the addition at 18' or so. I plan on putting a 5.5X9" beam on that end because of that.
1) When the addition goes on, can it be hung off the beam on the end of the house?
2) If so, will that size beam be appropriate to hang the addition on?
3) Is it OK to just put a beam on that end of the house and not the other, since the other will not have an addition?
4) If I do put a beam on one end, at the corners do I miter the beams over the 6X6 post and use a strong tie like the LCE4?

Thanks in advance to all who reply. I appreciate everyone's generosity on this forum. I searched for these answers to no avail, so I apologize if these questions have been addressed in an earlier post.

MountainDon

In my opinion, it would be better to add the room on it's own foundation. Also, IMO, a home the size of the 20x30 would be better on a full perimeter foundation, but unless you are in a code enforcement area you are free to choose. A crawl space foundation or a basement to take advantage of the extra space. Basements are nice for the utilities and a laundry space as well.

It looks like you are in WI; correct? You have a deeper frost depth than many of is. For a crawl space a skilled backhoe operator can easily trench the perimeter for a strong concrete footing and then poured concrete or concrete block walls. Build the house on that and you should have no worries about frost movement or other movement issues. The addition would then get it's own similar foundation when needed.
Just because something has been done and has not failed, doesn't mean it is good design.


sensedoor

Thanks for your advice, Don. The building lot is in Madison, WI, (48" frost line) and there are no deed restrictions. I was hoping to do this without getting a bank involved, because that really complicates things - like them not liking a small one bedroom home (no comps). Hence my trying to save money on the foundation. Everyone that knows anything about building tells me the same about the foundation that you do, though. I should probably listen to those more knowledgeable than I.

Even if we do have to get a bank involved, though, I'd still like to build a house that we can pay off before we pass it on to our kids. A basement makes it considerably more expensive, so I believe if we do a full perimeter foundation, it will be a crawlspace, with a slab that is stamped with a tile pattern. Hopefully save us money on flooring. I think it might be possible for my son and I to lay blocks instead of having poured walls for the foundation. I would think that would save us several thousand. Again, the bank doesn't like the idea of people actually helping to construct their own house, d* .

MountainDon

Quote from: sensedoor on November 09, 2012, 05:08:35 PM
.... there are no deed restrictions. ....


It's not deed restrictions I was thinking of. The state of WI has a state eide building code, If my understanding is correct; and there are no municipal opt outs.

Here's the website the state has for their Uniform Dwelling Code. From the first paragraph on the main page... The Uniform Dwelling Code (UDC) is the statewide building code for one- and two-family dwellings built since June 1, 1980. The Safety and Buildings Division provides consultation and education concerning UDC construction standards and inspection procedures. Building materials are evaluated for conformance with standards. UDC inspection and contractor credentials are administered. There is enforcement of the UDC in all Wisconsin municipalities.

Lots of links and information there. You should check on what you must do and can not do before getting too far along in the planning. Google should also come up with information on the city of Madison as well. It's possible they could have some differences from the state rules (more stringent, not less.

Good luck; let us know what sort of hoops they put up.
Just because something has been done and has not failed, doesn't mean it is good design.

sensedoor

Thanks a lot for your help, Don. I had been looking at the WI Residential Building code, but I've never seen the page you've referenced. There's lots there to go through. Madison also has a counter service with folks there to help people with limited knowledge of the ins and outs of the code, like myself. If we have to get help from a bank, we may just build at 20 X 40 and not do an addition later. They'll be much more accepting of a two bedroom house.

I appreciate your advice about the foundation. I was being told that by folks here, and I wasn't sure if they were just repeating the accepted practice, and hadn't really had experience with piers. But I know you've had experience with both, plus spent a lot of time on the forums, so hearing it from you holds some weight. Thanks again.

Mike


MountainDon

I've been told since my above post that in the past at least, the WI code was "odd".  May be different now, may not be. 

QuoteWI is, or was, a very different state to build in. Just a bit
southwest of Madison we had nothing but the lenders inspector and the
toughest health dept going. Oconomowoc the homeowner had to hire an
inspector, also outside of Wassau. Up near the lake in Solon Springs,
built 2, no inspections, Beaverton had none as well. I did have to get
licensed there, a fee and records but no test. The one in Oconomowoc
was a real piece of work.
Just because something has been done and has not failed, doesn't mean it is good design.